Sue Guinn Legg

The foundation is in place and the walls will soon go up on the school building under construction on the new 19-acre campus of Christ Children Home near Monrovia, Liberia.
New dormitories for the 44 children who continue to live in cramped quarters at the orphanage’s current location are now under roof and anticipation of the move to larger facilities with space for the children to play outside is running high.
But first, the school, and more importantly its cafeteria, must be completed. For anyone who would like to help provide materials for the construction, there’s an African-flavored dinner dance planned Saturday night at The Venue downtown.
Taste of Liberia, a benefit for the Christ Children Home for children who lost their families in Liberia’s 15-year civil war, will feature a buffet of Liberian dishes catered by N&K Variety Food, the Liberian diner and grocery on East Unaka Avenue where all tips and a portion of the restaurant’s proceeds foster the work of the orphanage school.
The festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with a meet and greet and appetizers, followed by a dinner of Liberian main dishes and desserts. A slide show on progress being made toward the orphanage’s big move will be presented by Philip Rogers, former pastor of Embreeville Church of Christ in Erwin who recently returned from a mission trip to Liberia.
There will also be a silent auction of gifts donated to the nonprofit Christ Children Home Education Fund, a Grand March and Liberian culture dance exhibition, followed by party with contemporary DJ music and dancing.
“This is a celebration of the improvements we’re making,” said Adolphus Hall, owner and operator of N&K Variety Food. The orphanage was founded by the family of Hall’s wife, Nyempu. And like the orphanage, he said, Saturday’s benefit is a family affair and children are welcome.
Tickets are $30 per person, $50 per couple and free for children age 12 and under. Tickets will be available at the door or may be purchased at the in advance by contacting Hall at 631-6308 or N&K Variety Food at 202-6308.
Christ Children Home was founded in January 2009 by Fungbeh and Neyor Karmue, who expanded their home in Liberia’s capital city in order to provide a home, an education and future for children who were orphaned in the civil war. The new campus was secured in 2010 and construction began soon afterward. Work on the school building began in November.
The Venue is located in the King Center at 300 E. Main St., Suite 200. More information about Saturday’s dinner dance and Christ’s Children be obtained by calling the Halls, by email to cchef44@gmail.com, or online at the CCHEF Facebook page.
For those who can’t attend the benefit but wish to help, tax-deductible donations to Christ Children Home Education Fund may be made by mail to 1015 E. Unaka Ave., Johnson City, TN 37601.
The local chapter of the American Cancer Society is recruiting volunteer beauty experts for its Look Good Feel Program for women undergoing cancer treatment.
Because the debilitating side- effects of cancer treatment also change the way women look and feel about themselves, the program offers specialized beauty techniques, cosmetics, skin care products, wigs, scarves, accessories and the expertise of licensed cosmetologists who are specially trained to make a difference in the lives of women with cancer.
Volunteer cosmetologists trained and certified by the ACS work with health care providers in their communities to provide free group sessions in which they teach hands-on techniques to help women in cancer treatment cope with hair loss and changes in their skin and nails.
The program is offered from 1-3 p.m. on the third Monday of every month at the regional ACS office at 308 Princeton Road; from noon-2 p.m. on the first Monday of every month at Wellmont Outpatient Center in Kingsport, from 10 a.m.-noon on the second Monday of every month at Laughlin Memorial Hospital in Greeneville; and from 1-3 p.m. on the fourth Monday of every month at the Wellmont Diagnostic Center in Bristol.
Anyone in need of the program’s assistance or anyone who would like to volunteer may call the American Cancer Society’s 24-hour hotline at 800-227-2345 or the local ACS office during regular business hours at 975-0635.

If there is a need or a project in your neighborhood the Good Neighbor column can assist with, contact Sue Guinn Legg at slegg@johnsoncitypress.com, P.O. Box 1717, Johnson City, TN 37605 1717 or 929-3111, ext. 335.